Where are the MEN???!!!

This is not new and I am sure you have heard this over and over again. "Where are the men in the church?" This is not only a local church issue but a global one. There is a lack of men in the mission field in areas where men are very much needed.

In a local church setting, many men are missing(physically AND/OR spiritually). I've many wonderful and godly lady friends but it seem the wonderful and godly men are either missing or taken. I'm not saying that singlehood is bad or wrong but the issue is not that the ladies want to remain single for life. Rather, one major issue is the lack of good, godly men (that are still single).

I have heard and read countless times of news from missionaries in the field that they need MEN. To do what? To reach out to boys and men and talk about men stuff and to do the things guys do together. This situation is actually worse than the situation at home in the local church. In a recent encounter with a group of 6 missionary candidates, I saw that there was only 1 male. Where the men?

Are they less reached? Do they resist the gospel more than women? Are they too pre-occupied with striving for their family that cross-cultural work became the least of priorities? Why are there less males in the church? And especially so in the mission field?

As a guy, maybe it is time to think about this. About reaching a guy friend, about going to places where you are more needed, about leading your family into a strange place for the gospel's sake.

So where are the men? You're 'it'. You are the answer if you are a man reading this. Go and fish some.

Overlooking Obvious Needs in Our Shallow "Christian" Worldview

Imagine this. You know of a poor family that lives down the road and they are hungry. The father of this family lost his job recently and has no more money to buy food. You know they need food and you have the capacity to meet this need. But you thought that as a ‘good Christian’, you ought to pray first and ‘confirm’ God’s call for you to provide for them. So you went down on your knees and pray this prayer, “Dear Lord, do you want me to buy Kentucky Fried Chicken for them or will fried rice do? I will wait and not buy anything for them until you showed me which to buy. Please confirm it. Amen”

Does this sound ridiculous to you? But it is exactly what many churches(and christians) are facing today! They do not seem to WANT to look at the real situation and real needs and asked themselves HARD questions like, “Okay. The need is obvious. So what should we do about it as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ?”

Do you need a calling to buy food for the hungry? Or a so-called confirmation to give them food? Or even to look spiritual by praying what to buy? No, you don’t. You just need to meet their needs like how the Lord met the needs of His days some two thousand years ago by healing the sick, touching the lepers and walking with the misfits and outcasts of society.
One of the most obvious needs that most churches in Singapore overlooked is the fact that there are about 15% M brothers & sisters waiting for us to tell them the good news. This amounts to about 750,000 based on 2009’s population estimate. I would say that mission work among them is negligible or perhaps even non-existent.

I thank God for churches and organizations engaging the Chinese, the Indians, other races and the many migrant blue-collar workers in Singapore. But we have neglected the 15% long enough. It is just not acceptable to neglect this work when the need is so obvious. It is inconceivable that no one is courageous enough to engage them; when all the talk about mission and missions conferences are held year after year and tons of resources are at the disposal of mega-churches and others alike.

I used to think I should not start a work among them because I might not be around in Singapore to see it through. I was wrong. God can and I believe, will get His people to carry on and take on His work when I’m gone. It is not me. It is all Him; His heart, His passion and His desire for all to know Him and worship Him. I do not need a calling to befriend them. I do not need to form a ministry for them. I just need to be willing and following my Master.

Are you still praying for this group of people(in other parts of the world) and planning to reach them? They are living right next to you. Time for the church to bring them the full, good news.

The Mission of Jesus and the Kingdom of God

Excerpt from "When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself" by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert.

"The mission of Jesus was and is to preach the good news of the kingdom of God (Luke 4:43), to say to one and all, "I am the King of kings and Lord of lords, and I am using My power to fix everything that sin had ruined." As pastor and theologian Tim Keller states, "The kingdom is the renewal of the whole world through the entrance of supernatural forces. As things are brought back under Christ's rule and authority, they are restored to health, beauty, and freedom."

Of course there is both a "now" and a "not yet" to the kingdom. The full manifestation of the kingdom will not occur until there is a new heaven and a new earth. Only then will every tear by wiped from our eyes (Rev 21:4). But two thousand years ago, Jesus clearly stated that there is a "now" to the kingdom, saying, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21)"

Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom in word and in deed. His people, His church must do the same. Are you preaching the good news of the kingdom in word and in deed?

Read & Meditate: Luke 4:17-21

Who is the Real Cause of the Problem?

Senator J William Fulbright in "The Price of Empire", page 172:
"It is understandably difficult... to get off to a good start with a new revolutionary regime when you plot to kill its leaders. If we plan to assassinate leaders we don't like, as the CIA is believed to have done with Castro, you are only asking for trouble. It's self-defeating. It is against our interests. I don't think it ever succeeds. It gives others an excuse to engage in terrorism, to kill our ambassadors or citizens travelling abroad[or at home]. You start a process of terrorism that has far-reaching and unpredictable consequences. There is a good case to be be made that we initiated it. We and some of our friends have initiated some of the worst aspects of modern terrorism."

Sometimes, we thought the problem is out there. But often, upon reflection, the problem begins in-house; in the heart, in the mind and in the supposedly benevolent action. Can we blame terrorism totally on one party? Who actually 'created' them? It's really no use pointing the finger now. I read with much sadness news about lives that are innocently lost in senseless bombings. A week ago it was Pakistan, today it was 90 lives and more in Baghdad. We have not heed the full extent of the phrase "You reap what you sow", especially when it comes to using force and violence as a problem solver - it never truly solves any problem.

Not too long ago, a man stood on stage and in a reflective tone spoke about the problem of 'rice christians' and 'christian workers with shallow roots' in an asean nation. Were the local people the problem? Who 'created' these different 'types' of christians? He concluded by saying, "We(the foreign force) are the cause of it". Let us not repeat the mistakes we have learned the hard way.

The Evangelistic and Societal Dimensions of Christian Mission

Paragraph 5 of the Lausanne Covenant

"We affirm that God is both Creator and Judge of all men. We therefore should share His concern for justice and reconciliation throughout human society and for the liberation of men from every kind of oppression. Because mankind is made in the image of God, every person, regardless of race, religion, colour, culture, class, sex or age, has an intrinsic dignity because of which he should be respected and served, not exploited. Here too we express penitence both for our neglect and for having sometimes regarded evangelism and social concern as mutually exclusive. Although reconciliation with man is not reconciliation with God, nor is social action evangelism, nor is political liberation salvation, nevertheless we affirm that evangelism and socio-political involvement are both part of our Christian duty. For both are expressions of our doctrines of God and man, our love for neighbour and our obedience to Jesus Christ. The message of salvation implies also a message of judgement upon every form of alienation, oppression and discrimination, and we should not be afraid to denounce evil and injustice wherever they exist. When people receive Christ they are born again into His kingdom and must seek not only to exhibit but also to spread its righteousness in the midst of an unrighteous world. The salvation we claim should be transforming us in the totality of our personal and social responsibilities. Faith without works is dead."

Get it?

Take this Risk

The onlookers say, "Why build this? Why do that? It's too expensive. It will fail. It's not possible. Are you sure? Is it worth the risk?"

Dr.Ralph D.Winter has the perfect reply for this:
"Risk are not to be evaluated in terms of the probability of success but in terms of the value of the goal"

What is the value of the goal of reaching the nations and seeing every tongue, tribe and people worshipping the Lord?

Priceless.

So I say - Take the risk. Take the plunge. Go for it.

Should I Go?

I have been quite busy this month with preparations for the trip to East Timor so July's pretty quiet.

Here's a short extracted write-up from a NTM missionary couple in Cambodia on why they went in the first place.

"The world had not been reached and we realized we had been commanded to go. There was a choice that had to be made. Did we want to serve as senders in this Great Commisson or did we want to go ourselves?"

So they made up their mind to go.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

3 more "go" commands found in the gospels - Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-48 & John 20:21.

Still thinking if you should go?

Guaranteed Answer to this Prayer

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives..." Matthew 7:7-8.

"Hmmm, for everyone who asks receives... ask and it will be given to you. What a great promise", I thought to myself. We know God is good and He gives good things to us. But sometimes we wonder if we will receive what we ask, don't we? Then a verse comes to my mind and I noticed something.

"Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field" Matt 9:37-38.

Did you notice something? It says, "ASK the LORD of the harvest to SEND out workers in his harvest field". Ask. The verse tells us to ASK him. Did you know this is a prayer that will be answered for sure? It's guaranteed! It explictly tells us to ask God to send out workers! Ask him and he will do so. Ask and you will receive! If you're burdened by the lack of workers in the harvest field and in your church, then ask and you will receive. No missions programs or conferences can guarantee any workers. Only bended knees can.

To Live is Christ

To Live is Christ. Lord we repent. Your church is so far off. Help us this day to follow you. A world is dying yet we are barely doing anything to help. Consume us with your passion this day.

Got Money and No Money -> So What?

There are many paradoxes in life. Reading the current headlines of East Timor got me thinking again - at the same issue.

1 in 55 children die before the age of 5, and 1 in 35 mothers die during childbirth. If you think East Timor is poor, you will only need to enquire about their petroleum fund and Timor doesn't look that poor anymore. There is currently X billion dollars in East Timor's petroleum fund.

So the dire straits of the common folks is not because the country does not have any money, but it is what, how and where does the money go to. While it is true that East Timor is still comparatively poor when a country's wealth is gauged by her GDP(it's not 100% accurate anyway), in terms of funds, East Timor is not short of it. Millions of dollars are poured into the country by other countries and aid organizations.

So why is the common folk still suffering from the same trivial problems such as:
1. Death because of common(in East Timor), curable illnesses such as diarrhaoue, fever, malaria, typhoid, wound infections
2. Lack of education opportunities; especially in the rural and mountainous regions
3. Lack of proper water sanitation and access
4. Lack of medical facilities
and the list goes on.

Can't money solve all these problems? Can't we build schools, build medical facilities, build a world class sewage system, hire experts and doctors? But the reality is that money can't solve all these problems because solving these problems are just not as straightforward as I wished it to be; even if it does looked straightforward. There are so many underlying nitty gritties such as the person driving the project to the approval by government agencies that a discussion on why money alone cannot solve these problems is just beyond the scope of this article.

Yet at the same time, without money, nothing much can be done. To quote a chinese phrase, "You qian ye shi zi yang, mei qian ye shi zi yang". It almost make things sound so hopeless; a kind of resigning-to-my-fate sentiment. What does it take to ensure that less children die before the age of 5? And what does it take to ensure that less mothers die during childbirth? Could the answer be you and me? Perhaps the no.1 reason why many Timorese are still suffering is because you and I are not bringing to them the knowledge and love they need to get themselves out of their malady.

It's time to think again. Where do we go from here?

Participating in God's Global Mission - Yes, YOU!

Traditionally, Christians think that the only way to get involved in missions is to be a full-fledged missionary and travel to some dangerous cannibalistic tribe infested jungle. (Okay, I am over-stereotyping) But I have found many Christians not participating in God's mission work because they do not know how to besides becoming a missionary, or they are simply apathetic. Another reason could be the lack of knowledge - who to pray for? who to give to? where to go and support? what can I help if I can't travel?

So if you're stuck in your own country, or you know you're not going to be a missionary(which IS definitely alright), one of the best ways you can help and participate in God's global mission is to give and support a missionary.

Have you heard of people groups called Gond, Halba, Bhatra, Thakur, Raut and Mahara? You haven't? So do I. But a native missionary I am supporting in India is reaching out to them. I don't have to(and probably can't) be there to tell them that Jesus loves them. A number of these groups are unreached people groups who desperately need the gospel (See: The Joshua Project)

So am I telling you that you can pat yourself and feel good about reaching out to people living overseas without having to lift a finger? NO! I am telling you that you have an OBLIGATION to engage yourself in God's global mission in reaching and discipling people of all nations. And one simple way is to help support a missionary who is in the field doing the outreach work while you serve God by your giving. So why spend money on things that will fleet away? Give some of your money to things that are of eternal value. Support a missionary today(Go to: www.gfa.org)

(P.S. It's only USD30 a month! And it'll go a long way for them!)

East Timor Reflection no.2

"What do the people need or want?" - this is probably the no.1 question on most people's mind when they have been to East Timor and thinking how to help the people. The needs are many - for some, it's daily food. for some, it is education. and for others, work and a steady income. "How do we solve all these problems?" - Wrong question. Although some people might have the perception that Timorese in general are quite a laidback people, I've seen examples that beg to differ.

I've met brilliant Timorese. And I've met brilliant Timorese youth with a never-say-die attitude and they made it through tough times. So what's the right question? I would say - "How do they solve all these problems?". And believe me, I think they are able to. If we would humble ourselves, learn from them and aid them along, and work together with them.

The other part of our world has so much resources that we are not utilizing them to the fullest. There are many needs that we can help meet with our resources, but which one comes first? I personally feel that education is the priority. Not the usually assumed academic education where one thinks that with some form of paper, they can find a decent job and live well. Come on, with 40% unemployment, what can a piece of paper do?

If you have read the book, "The book that transforms nations" by Loren Cunningham, you will know what I mean. Social skills, healthy habits, problem solving skills, working as a team, leadership skills, taking care of one’s body, moral values, conflict resolution, spiritual disciplines, godly character & development and so on as Education. It covers every aspect of a growing child and a growing adult into fuller maturity and wisdom. But besides all these good stuff, I realised after reading the book that you have to have God involved. Who's going to teach radical things like "Love your enemies? Bless those who cursed you? Consider others better than yourself? Look to the interest of others?"

If a person will have that, and willingly do it because he loves God, that'll do it. Lives will be transformed. Society will be transformed. There will be no poor people. There will be food for everyone. Our earlier questions will be answered. There will be peace in Timor. There will be prosperity.

Until then, let us change our mindsets about our Timorese friends and about ourselves. We're not in anyway smarter or greater. We're just privileged to be born and bred in a country that God has placed you and I in. And yes, you and I have a part to play in the transformation of lives. Tell them God's love. Teach them by living godly lives. God will answer your question, and theirs in due time.

East Timor Reflection no.1

    

Dinner with Aussie friends at Gleno - Orphanage founder, water project co-ordinator, educationalist, English trainer, community project manager, handyman. (the ladies are preparing food in kitchen)


 At Mary McKillop East Timor - Tetun Literacy Programme, Marungi(Moringa)workshops, compassionate care, sponsorships, justice advocacy, health education

This trip has been an eventful one. Besides losing my trail in climbing Mt.Ramelau, the other exciting aspect of this trip would be the no. of contacts and knowledge I have gained about those who are working in East Timor and for East Timor.

Even though my visit was only a short one week, God had used me to link up people and to share information with those on the field. I am glad I was of some use to those on the ground. However, there are some thoughts that lingered at the back of my mind after these encounters.

"Are we intentionally spending time to find out the good work that others are doing? Even if they are not Christians. Do we make an effort to know them? Or even to humble ourselves and learn from them?"

"Are we caught up in a "I want to do it on my own" mentality? or are we able to join/partner/support existing programs that are already running so that we do not waste resources? (and have an open door to share the good news with them as well)"

"Are we connected only through a Christian network? How about connecting with other workers and NGOs (even if they are not Christians)? Are we that exclusive (or seem to be that exclusive)?"

"Why are we not partnering or working with other groups? Is it because we failed to see that joining them (and in the process be a witness to them) is much more effective than getting them to cross over the barriers to join us? Or is it because the rigid institutional structure does not permit us to do so?"

These questions certainly makes me feel frustrated, and especially so when I am not in Timor. Perhaps it is because I've seen similar things like this happen in Cambodia, in Timor and even in Singapore. The followers of Jesus must stop being exclusive amongst themselves, and amongst other people. No church belongs to itself, and no members belong to his own church alone. All belong to Christ and are in Christ. You and I are the body - whether you're a full time worker or not. We must break out of our 'exclusive' mould.

My conclusion: The need to spend time with people who are doing a great job in Timor - Christians or not - is necessary. We better go with a humble heart or fail trying.

Striking a Balance in our Views and Distribution of Workers

I was just thinking through this. Does it make someone greater if he works full time in a church? Does it count for more than someone who work in the marketplace? I think the answer is a plain NO.

For those of you who are not working as a full time church worker, consider it a privilege that the harvest field is ripe before you. Waiting for you to sow seeds, waiting for you to reap the harvest. Who has a bigger list of friends and colleagues who do not know the Lord? I am very sure it is you who are working in the marketplace. So consider it a privilege to have this field before you, and serve the Lord faithfully in it and touch lives.

To full time workers: The day when you say you do not have anyone to evangelise to anymore will be the saddest day in your life. Do not be deceived into using your environment as an excuse for a lack of contacts. The streets are full of people who do not know the Lord. Pray for divine contacts and continue to reach out. Touch base again.

Whether we work in the church or in the marketplace, we must always remember that there are people still waiting for us to preach the good news to them. And we have a mandate to tell them the good news and to live out the good news.

What troubles me most is not the bias view of full-time church vocation looking more spiritual and superior than marketplace work, but the great imbalance of human resources. Every mission field that I have been to, I always hear the same thing - there is not enough cross-cultural workers. The ratio is way too imbalance. This is not always the fault of churches not sending, but also missionaries not training and raising up local leaders. But often, we have a problem of either sending, going or both. No wonder the bible tells us to 'ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out his workers into his harvest field' (Matt 9:38)

So I really pray that God will help us to live our lives more purposefully for Him. To love Him and to love our neighbours as ourselves. "Send more workers into your harvest field Lord. Many are still waiting for your good news. Let me be one of those who are sent. Amen.

The Great Commission and You

"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?" -- David Livingstone, missionary to Africa

"The command has been to 'go,' but we have stayed -- in body, gifts, prayer and influence. He has asked us to be witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth ... but 99% of Christians have kept puttering around in the homeland." -- Robert Savage, Latin American Mission

"'Not called!' did you say?
'Not heard the call,' I think you should say.
Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face -- whose mercy you have professed to obey -- and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world. -- William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army

"The Christian is not obedient unless he is doing all in his power to send the Gospel to the heathen world." -- A.B. Simpson, founder of The Christian and Missionary Alliance

"I have but one passion: It is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ." -- Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, leader of the early protestant world mission movement

"As the Father has sent me, I also send you" -- John 20:21

Are you ready to go?

Oh Timor. Hau hadomi O (I love you)

Today is a busy day of packing my stuffs. This is one thing I dislike the most, i.e. having to move house. As I begin to throw away unwanted items and organize many others, I came across some unknown CDs and DVDs. One of them was written "East Timor Video 1 & 2". The words didn't ring a bell so I decided to stop my packing and watch the DVD.

It was April 27 to May 1 2006. The situation in East Timor was volatile and as the team arrived, we were caught in the middle of a riot. Houses were torched and mobs were walking around the streets with machete. We managed to turn around and went past the eastern roads before it got blocked too. We could see smoke from burning houses rising high as we drove up the hills to Bacau and Los Palos. It was a very sad sight.

The eastern part was peaceful. The medical team was able to help many Timorese and the rest of the team cheer up the villagers with balloons and songs. There were children everywhere - smiling and grinning at us as if they never knew poverty or the state the country is in. They were full of innocence, energy and life - they had so much potential, so much good in them. The video went on to challenge the audience to respond. "God has spoken. Is He speaking to you?", "Children children children everywhere. My heart cries every time I see them", "A part of me was left behind in the village when I left". As I continue to watch and remember the people, I began to wept.

I wept that we are so far off and so helpless to help. I wept that the people have only seen us, their friends only once, and perhaps never to see us again. I wept that there are so many children who will be growing up in a lost world. I wept that there are a lack of workers who will bring the good news to them that all their needs might be met. I wept that it has been almost 2 years since I last talk to a Timorese and laugh with them. I wept because God is filling my heart once again with His love for them. I just wept again and again over those faces - every single one of them, so precious in the sight of God.

"O God. How long must I tarry on? Forgive my impatience. Please send workers, even I, that your will be done. That your love will bind the wounds of the broken-hearted, and your power will set them free. Please Lord. Please Lord. Have mercy on them and on us.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños!

"Dr.O gave his life to Jesus some months ago and was baptized recently!" my Brazilian friend shared the news with delight. Wow! I'm amazed, and I felt so happy. I'm so grateful that God had touched Dr.O and helped him believe in Jesus, even though his new status meant that many of his friends shunned him.

Thinking back, meeting Dr.O in East Timor has been such a 'divine appointment' from God. I was then having acute pain in my lower right abdomen and was advised to seek medical treatment in case it is appendicitis. My nurse friend contacted Dr.O and told J. and I to seek help from him. When we found him, he had just recovered from dengue fever but proceeded anyway to diagnose my case and gave me treatment and follow-up instructions(he did not even charge me for the medication!). I was very grateful for his kindness and arranged to treat him to a dinner at my place. When J. and I found out about his birthday, we decided to surprise him with a birthday cake.

He was really thrilled on that day as we sang him a birthday song and celebrate his birthday over dinner. We also had a short time of sharing and got to know Dr.O better - even though I had to get J. to translate his Spanish to Portuguese and to English for me to understand. Some time later, we got to know that he had never had such a birthday celebration before and that he was very touched by it.

Fast forward to today, Dr.O had given his life to Jesus and find real meaning and joy. He'll be leaving Timor soon and going back to his dear country. I never knew that that birthday celebration had meant so much to him and that it had brought forth a wonderful friendship between him and J. and finally led him to discover Jesus for himself. Birthday celebration is such a common affair to us that we have taken it for granted. But for another person like Dr.O, it had brought him closer to knowing Christ and it did finally. Ah, what a wonderful God we have. And what a wonderful new birthday for Dr.O in the Kingdom of God.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" and "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" - Gal 6:9, Matt 5:16

¡Feliz Cumpleaños! = Happy Birthday in Spanish

Festival of Light

Today I celebrated Deepavali, a major Indian festival significant in Hinduism , Jainism and Sikhism. It is popularly known as the "Festival of Light," where the lights or lamps signify the uplighting of darkness and victory of good over the evil within. Sounds familiar? Yes, similarities of the gospel where the great Light has come to the world and triumph over death and darkness.

Though I didn't get the chance to use this analogy to share with my Indian friends, I had a great time fellowshipping with them and got to pray for them when I was invited to say grace for the food. It really is a slow process but it is a good stepping stone to building deeper relationship and to shine as light before them.

Christmas is coming up and I'm praying for more of them to join me this time and may God opened their hearts even more. With globalization, the missions field is really not too far away from where we stay. Take a trip down to Little India, Golden Mile complex and Peninsula Plaza and you will see many Indians, Thais and Burmese. And there are many other nationalities in your workplace and neighbourhood too. So let us all take a good look at the field and realise this soon. The world is waiting to hear from us.

"Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." John 4:35

Rethinking and Rediscovering

I'm beginnging to rethink many things recently. It seems that some of the things I thought I knew were more "assumed knowledge" than really understanding what they are really all about. As I began to reflect on how I approach missions and what I really understand about it, I realised I've missed out a big part of Christ in the equation. The first thing that comes to our mind when we talk about missions is usually about the obedience to the great commission or about reaching out to the poor and oppressed. This is not wrong, but there's something more. It is Christ.

I've realised that my motivation for missions has been about going all out to help the poor and to win them to Christ. It is about the doing and the action. Prayers have often been "Lord, show me how I can do this & that. Teach me how to talk to them. Have mercy on these souls." There is nothing wrong with such prayers, but it is not complete and the focus is not the most excellent. I've come to realise that I've lost the wonder of Christ in my missions endeavours. That is to stand in awe of Him and behold His glory. That my motivation and passion for missions should first come because of Him, simply Him and Him alone - my awe of Him, my wonder of Him, my speechless expression of His glory. It is all about Jesus.

'Strangely' enough, a day after I've received this 'revelation', I read John Stott's excellent paper on the Christology of Mission. I cannot agree more on one of the things he wrote. He says:
"The primary motive for mission is neither obedience to the Great Commission, nor even love for those who are oppressed, lonely, lost and perishing, important as both those incentives are, but rather zeal or 'jealousy' for the glory of Christ. It was 'for his name's sake', in order that it might receive the honour which it deserved, that the first missionaries went out. The same passionate longing should motivate us"

Read John Stott's excellent Christology of Mission at http://www.servantsasia.org/Article-Christology.asp

Give due credit and respect

Ever heard of this 'catch' phrase we foreigners often use when we are in a third world country? "Oh, we must EMPOWER the locals. Must teach them this and that and EMPOWER them." Let me clarify. I have nothing against imparting knowledge and skills, and I certainly think it is good to help the local people to learn certain skills that will enable them to do certain things independently. But sometimes, we are so conditioned in our minds about our "superiority" as a foreigner that we don't even realise that sometimes we belittle the locals. We always talk a lot about helping them to gain confidence and be independent but our words sometimes suggest otherwise. I have this Khmer staff working with me on computers and the picture painted to him is that I am some sort of rocket scientist that will 'impart' to him all my skills and know-how. I got to work with him once before I officially joined the team and I noticed that he knows his computer stuffs well and he has a natural analytical mind that is very good for computers. It is true that there are stuffs I know which he doesn't but he already knows quite a fair bit and that's quite something for a person without a formal computer education and who started off working as a security guard!

It's the afternoon and the "encouraging" words rang loud and clear again in the office and I could see the cleverly concealed embarrassed look on his face. Well, I sincerely believe those words are really meant to encourage him but it is put in such a way that it doesn't sound like it, at least not to an adult. Maybe a child will think of it as an encouragement to learn but to me, it really sound like belittlement. Perhaps the person trying to encourage him do not know where his computer skills level is at but still, that cannot be an excuse for being insensitive. I happen to hear something similar in 3 different occasions and each time, I can see that his head is slightly bowed, as if to agree that he knows next to nothing. It is no wonder why some local people never rise up. And that's because we still treat them like little children, not trusting them to do a good job and not giving them room for failures so that they can learn. Let us treat them as adults and not little children, and give them respect and credit where it is due. Phil 2:3